Ma Ja Le & James Johnson Seed Please go to the Store to buy this item.

CD / 6 tracks / 73.38 mins

Gurgling sounds and effects and shapeless textures abound in this richly organic sonic expanse. Jumping right into the deep crevasse, 'Yaquona (part 1)' is dark yet delicate, with soft undercurrents brewing and bubbling. There is a feeling of uneasiness or foreboding, something amiss is about to happen. It becomes unexpectedly bright and shimmering near the very end. A vague semblance of rhythm, which soon grows into a deep reverberant plodding beat, begins part two. You feel the need to brush away the bugs in the dank musty cavern. The sounds conjure up detailed images, very compelling stuff.

'Methane Sea' has, surprisingly, a Vangelis-like lead, adding some melancholy melody to the mostly formless echoes. Rich delicate atmospheres are beautifully done here. This track also appears on the limited edition 'Live Under A Harvest Moon,' but the version on 'Seed' is over 15 minutes long, a more fully developed piece. Resonant flutes and more bleating drums dominate 'Outside In,' a tribal number with cool eastern touches. I'd feel almost cheated if a James Johnson CD didn't include an excellent piano solo, this time in the form of 'Hibiscus Ceremony.' His sparse playing amidst more synth textures has a very calming effect. You may need to return to it after the brooding, haunting title track that closes out the disc. Another track from 'Harvest Moon,' here it is twice as long and twice as dark. The benchmark for dark ambient has to be Robert Rich and Lustmord's 'Stalker,' and this finds itself in similar territory. Downright spooky, but deliciously so. (PD)

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